Uncurler guide for sewing machines



May 22, 1934.

J. MANN UNCURLER GUIDE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 10, 1930 Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Joseph Mann,

Philadelphia,

Pa., assignor to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 10, 1930, SerialNo. 451,410

12 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in an uncurler guide for sewing machines, and more particularly to a guide adapted to be used in connection with a cup feed machine having feeding wheels rotating about vertical axes for supporting and feeding the material as it is stitched.

An object of the invention is to provide an unculer having presser members each of which is provided with uncurling means, which presser members have fabric engaging portions mounted on flexible supports whereby said" members are capable of rocking about vertical axes so as to maintain proper contact with fabric sections of varying thicknesses passing through the guiding device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an uncurling device of the above character wherein auxiliary presser members having uncurling means are arranged so as to contact with the edge portions of the fabric sections after they pass between the primary presser members for assisting in maintaining the edge portions uncurled.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed. 7

In the drawing which shows by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention;-

Figure 1 is a side view of a guiding device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of the fabric engaging portions of the primary and auxiliary presser members showing also the fabric passing through the same, and diagrammatically the position of the feed cups.

The invention is directed to a guide for uncurling the edge portions of knitted fabric sections as they are guided and directed to the feed cups of a sewing machine. The machine is of the well known character, and includes feed wheels rotating about vertical axes for supporting and feeding the material to the stitching mechanism.

The needle reciprocates horizontally, and a looper cooperates with the needle in forming overedge stitches'for uniting and covering the edges of the fabric sections. The machine has not been shown, as it is not thought necessary to an understanding of the invention. The uncurler guide includes primary presser members provided with uncurling means and cooperating with a center plate. for guiding and uncurling the edges of a fabric section. These primary presser members are each mounted so that the fabric engaging portions thereof are capable of rocking about vertical axes so that when the thickness of the fabric sections vary the fabric engaging members will maintain their contact with the fabric section as it passes through the guide and thus insure the uncurling of the edge portions and the retaining of the edge portions uncurled. Associated with the guide are also auxiliary presser members each having uncurling means, and these auxiliary presser members are disposed in rear of the uncurling means carried by the primary presser members, and said auxiliary presser members operate to aid in maintaining the edges uncurled. and to uncurl the edge portions which tend to recurl after they pass through the primary uncurling devices.

Referring more in detail to the drawing the uncurler guide consists of a supporting member 1, which is pivoted at 2 to a bracket carried by the machine. A disk 3 is associated with the bracket, and is provided with a series of notches 4, 4. A locking lever 5 carried by the support 1 is provided with a nose adapted to engage one of the notches 4, 4 for locking and holding the guide in operative position, or for locking and holding the guide in inoperative position. A releasing arm 6 is associated with the locking lever 5. These parts just described form no part of the present invention but are shown described and claimed in the patent granted to Ralph Vine, November 19, 1918, No. 1,285,482.

The support 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, is provided with a slot extending from the lower edge thereof upwardly in the supporting member l, and this slot is substantially parallel with the side walls of the supporting member 1. A plate 7 is mounted in the slot, and projects below the support 1. This forms a guiding and supporting plate with which the presser members cooperate in the directing and uncurling of the edge portions of the fabric sections. Mounted directly beneath the lower end of the support 1 and along side of the plate '7 are primary fabric engaging presser members 8 and 9. The presser member 8 is secured to a flat spring 10 by suitable screws 11, 11. This fiat spring 10 is secured in turn by suitable screws 12, 12 to the support 1. The primary fabric engaging member 9 is also supported by a flat spring 13. This spring is secured to the primary presser member 9 by screws 14, and is secured to the support 1 by screws 15. The center plate '7 has a forwardly projecting portion 7 and a rearwardly projecting portion into the guide.

take all curl out of the edge portions.

7 The primary presser members 8 and 9 are similar in construction. Each is provided with an inclined face 16 which is beveled downwardly and rearwardly so as to provide an uncurling means. There are openings through the presser members 8 and 9 and a guiding pin 17 carried by the plate 7 projects through these openings. The fabric sections which are indicated at F in Fig. 4 are guided along the opposite sides of the center plate '7 and are pressed upon by the primary fabric engaging portions 8 and 9. The edges f of the fabric sections which tend to curl engage the uncurling portion 16 of the primary presser members and the fabric sections uncurled and flat, pass beneath the presser members with the upper edges thereof in contact with the guiding pin 17. The fiat springs 10 and 13 which serve as the means for supporting the presser members 8 and 9 are each cut away as indicated at 18 and 19 thus forming a narrow portion in each spring which is capable of a torsion twist so that the fabric engaging portions 8 and 9 will rock about a vertical axis or shifting vertical axes so that when a greater thickness of fabric passes between the presser members 8 and- 9 and the center plate the forward ends of these presser members will move away a greater distance, While the rear ends will remain in contact with the thinner portion of the fabric and retain the edges in their uncurled condition. When this increased thickness of the fabric passes by the center of each fabric engaging portion of the primary presser members, then said fabric engaging portions will rock or turn so that the rear ends of the same are supported a greater distance from the center plate, while the forward ends of the presser members will make contact with the thinner portion of the fabric passing By this mounting of the presser members which permits each member to rock or to. turn about a vertical axis, the presser members maintain their contact with the fabric sections, holding them firmly against the center plate regardless of the varying thickness of the fabric passing through the guide. By this means the edges of the fabric sections are uncurled and maintained uncurled and not released as the varying thicknesses pass into and through the guide.

Associated with these primary presser memhers is a pair of auxiliary presser members 20; The presser members 20 are similar in construction and a description of one will answer for the other; Each presser member 20 is mounted on a fiat spring 21, and is secured thereto by screws 22. The flat spring is secured to the support 1 by screws 23. The presser member has an inclined upper face which is beveled to form an uncurling means, indicated at 24. The primary presser member has a cut-away portion in rear of the guiding pin 17, but the lower part of the primary presser member extends all the way to the rear of the guide. These auxiliary presser members 20 are located above the rear portions of the primary presser members, and are positioned so as to engage the edge portions of the fabric passing beneath the guiding pin 17. If the uncurled edges are released by the increased thickness of fabric passing beneath the primary presser members, the edges tend to recurl, in which case the uncurlers 24 will act thereon and Furthermore, these auxiliary presser members engaging the uncurled edge portions after they leave the portions of the primary presser members in the region of the guiding pin, will retain said edge portions uncurled.

It will be noted that the guide is particularly adapted for operation upon fabric sections wherein the fabric may increase in thickness, as for example in a stocking where the welt is of greater thickness than the body of the stocking and the reinforced heel is also of greater thickness. As these increased thicknesses of fabric pass into and through the guide the primary presser members will rock and take care of the variation in the thickness and maintain a firm supporting and guiding contact with the fabric sections throughout the entire time that they are passing through the guide. The auxiliary presser members will cooperate with the primary presser members in retaining the edges uncurled and uncurling any 'recurling portions leaving the primary presser members, and thus the edges will be guided to the feed wheels in proper fiat relation to each other for stitching.

While I have shownv the center plate used in conjunction with a special arrangement of presser members, it will be understood that this detachable and replaceable plate may be used in any form of uncurler as it enables" the parts which are engaged by the fabric and which become worn to be readily removed and replaced.

It will be noted thatv there is a projecting finger 25 on each main presser member which has the under face thereof curved- This serves as a gage not for guiding the fabric but for aiding the operator in directing the fabric.

It will be obvious that the details of construction and arrangement of. the parts may be greatly varied without departing from the spirit of the. invention which resides in the arrangement of uncurling devices so as to operate in succession on fabric sections and function independently for uncurling the edges and maintaining saidedge portions uncurled regardless of the variations in the thickness of the fabric sections passingthrough the guide.

Having thus fully described: my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for sewing machines comprising. presser members having means for uncurling the edges of the fabric sections, and a flexible device for supporting each presser member whereby said member is capable of rocking about an axis at right angles to the direction of movement of the fabric through said guiding device.

2. A fabric guiding. and uncurling device. for sewing machines comprising presser members having means for uncurling the edges of the fabric sections, a flat spring rigidly attached to each presser member, means for rigidly supporting said fiat springs, said springs being shaped so as to permit the presser members to rock about axes at right angles to the direction of movement of the fabric through said guiding device.

3. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for sewing machines comprising presser members having means for uncurling the edges of the fabric sections, a fiat spring rigidly secured to each presser member, means. to which said fiat springs are rigidly attached, each spring being cut-away so as to form a relatively narrow portion between its ends operating to permit the presser members to rock about axes at right angles to the direction of movement of the fabric through said guiding device.

4. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for sewing machines comprising primary presser members having means for uncurling the edges of the fabric sections, means for supporting said presser members whereby the same are capable of rocking about axes at right angles to the path of movement of the fabric through the guiding device, and auxiliary presser members disposed so as to operate on the edges of the fabric sections after they leave the uncurling means of the primary presser members, said auxiliary presser members having means for uncurling and maintaining uncurled the edges of the fabric sections.

5. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for sewing machines comprising primary presser members having means for uncurling the edges of the fabric sections, means for supporting said presser members whereby the same are capable of rocking about axes at right angles to the path of movement of the fabric through the guiding device, and auxiliary presser members disposed in rear of the uncurling means on the primary presser members and above the fabric engaging portions of the primary presser members for aiding and maintaining the edges uncurled and for uncurling any recurling edges of the fabric sections.

6. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for sewing machines comprising primary presser members having means for uncurling the edges of the fabric sections, means for supporting said presser members whereby the same are capable of rocking about axes at right angles to the path of movement of the fabric through the guiding device, auxiliary presser members disposed in rear of the uncurling means on the primary presser members, a flat spring rigidly attached to each of said auxiliary presser members, and means for rigidly supporting said springs.

7. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for sewing machines comprising a center support, a plate carried thereby projecting downwardly from the support, presser members cooperating with said plate and having means for guiding and uncurling the edges of the fabric sections, and means for supporting said presser members whereby said members are capable of rocking about vertical axes.

8. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for sewing machines comprising a center support, a plate carried thereby projecting downwardly from the support, presser members cooperating with said plate and having means for guiding and uncurling the edges of the fabric sections, and a fiat spring for each presser member rigidly secured to the respective presser member and rigidly secured to said support.

9. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for sewing machines comprising a center support, a plate carried thereby projecting downwardly from the support, presser members cooperating with said plate and having means for guiding and uncurling the edges of the fabric sections, and a fiat spring for each presser member rigidly secured to the respective presser member and rigidly secured to said support, said springs being cut-away so as to form relatively narrow portions intermediate their ends whereby said presser members are capable of rocking about vertical axes.

10. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for sewing machines comprising a center support, a plate carried thereby projecting downwardly from the support, presser members cooperating with said plate and having means for guiding and uncurling the edges of the fabric sections, means for supporting said presser members whereby said members are capable of rocking about vertical axes, and an independent pair of presser members adapted to cooperate with said plate in rear of the uncurling means on the first-named pair of presser members.

11. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for sewing machines comprising a center support, a guiding plate carried by and projecting downwardly from said support, primary presser members located beneath the support, and cooperating with said center plate for guiding the fabric sections and having means for uncurling the edges thereof, a flat spring attached to each presser member and to said support, auxiliary presser members located beneath the support in rear of the uncurling means on the primary presser members and cooperating with said plate for guiding the edge portions of the fabric sections having means for uncurling the edge portions, and a flat spring attached to each auxiliary presser member and to said support.

12. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for sewing machines comprising a support, presser members having means for uncurling the edges of the fabric sections, yielding means rigidly attached to said support and rigidly attached to the respective presser members for supporting the same, said yielding means operating to permit the presser members to rock about axes at right angles to the direction of movement of the fabric through said guiding device.

JOSEPH MANN. 

